Why Seattle was the perfect place to begin the Real series

I think my fascination with Seattle stems back to the first time I visited when I was 7. I remember the view, everything green. The city, so friendly and yet also so sophisticated. Then there was delicious food, and, despite the fact that we’d been warned it might rain, the great weather. The rain ended up being a drizzle and it only seemed to help draw you indoors for a little bit, while the moment the sun came up, you were drawn out. 

I think my fascination continued with the movie Sleepless in Seattle, luring me back to the city, time and again. I learned that Seattle is also a big music city, not as big as others, perhaps, but there’s even a music community around, and a fabulous one. Since music is crucial to sharing parts of themselves among my hero and heroine, Remington Tate and Brooke Dumas. It would seem natural this would be a city where, at least one of them, had been born.

So when I sat down to write Real, book 1 of the REAL series, I knew it was the book of my heart. It encompassed so many topics that were dear to me. Love (of course!), shattered dreams, new paths, mental health, body awareness, and the amazing will of two human beings fighting to be better, be happy, and belong. How could I not include my absolute favorite city? I absolutely had to.